CJA petitions Pakistan PM to intervene for media safety

The CJA has petitioned the Prime Minister of Pakistan to intervene to ensure that the media is protected against violence and undue pressure.

The letter, delivered the the Pakistani High Commission for forwarding to the Prime Minister, comes after a high profile attempt on Geo anchor Hamid Mir’s life in Karachi and an assault on the Jang resident editor Zafar Aheer in Multan.

“While we uphold the highest journalistic standards, and recognise that there are times when newsmen and editors can overstep the line between factual reporting and tendentious speculation, we are strongly of the view that Pakistan’s hard-won media freedom needs to be nurtured and safeguarded,” Payne said in the letter.

The CJA is also concerned that the attacks and surrounding controversy are dividing journalists, a move that could result in more threats to safety and media freedom.